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Atlanta schools to furlough 1,200 staffers in November

Bob Andres/bandres@ajc.com
Attorney Charles Huddleston (left) and Meria Carstarphen, superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, are all smiles after a judge on Friday agreed to allow Fulton County to collect tax money. The school district will still have to furlough some employees in November. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Posted: 10:57 a.m. Wednesday, November 08, 2017

Atlanta Public Schools announced details of a furlough plan that will require about 1,200 employees to take two days off in November, but they’ll be paid back for the days a couple of months later.

District officials said the furloughs are necessary because of cash-flow problems caused by delays sending out Fulton County tax bills. Although a judge on Friday ordered the beginning of tax collection, it will take time for the district to receive that revenue, so it is implementing several short-term cost-saving measures.

Hourly employees, some part-time employees, and administrators are among those who will take days off without pay Nov. 20 and Nov. 21. The list of those affected includes the superintendent, deputy superintendent, accounting staff, custodians, and various directors.

Students are out of school for Thanksgiving break that entire week, and the central office will be closed.

The district plans to pay employees for the two furlough days on Jan. 15, after taxes have been collected. That’s when the district also will pay non-teaching employees a $500 payment it promised in lieu of a raise but has delayed because of cash-flow problems.

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